Recently, I treated Debrah, a 68-year-old female with uncontrolled high blood pressure (HBP). She was prescribed several BP medicines. However, not only did BP keep going up, but she developed side effects such as dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and heart palpitations. In four months, she saw two primary care physicians, a neurologist, a gastrologist, and two cardiologists, did numerous blood tests, an MRI of her brain and heart, and three visits to the emergency room (ER). When I met her at the initial consultation, she was in the depths of despair. I reviewed all her labs and listened to her story. I found her symptoms may be connected to her son who passed away a year ago from a car accident. Her neck and back were as tight as a piece of wood, which could be associated with her direct reaction to the news. Debrah suffers from PTSD, but nobody told her that! I taught her biofeedback, which is to visualize the muscle and relieve the muscle tension. She was instructed to do core exercises, stretching, and meditation daily. I encouraged her to spend more time outdoors and get sun exposure to increase her vitamin D level. Listen to 528 Hz music and do ginger foot soaking before bed to soothe the mind. I treated her with acupuncture and cupping twice per week to reduce stress and improve circulation. I taught her a dash diet, which focuses on lean protein, and foods high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. I added customized herbal prescriptions to help sleep quality, circulation, and energy. After three weeks, Debrah’s BP returned to normal, she is more relaxed, sleeps through the night, and her neck and back are much soft to the touch.
Trauma affects the body and mind in deeply interconnected ways. On the body level, trauma manifests as chronic pain, tension, digestive issues, elevated blood pressure, etc. On the mind level, it manifests as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, anxiety, difficulty focusing, and sleep disturbances. Healing from trauma requires addressing these interconnected effects.
TCM’s Holistic Approach to Trauma:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can play a supportive role in healing trauma—whether physical, emotional, or psychological—by focusing on restoring balance and harmony within the body and mind via acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and functional exercises such as meditation and Tai Chi. Integrating TCM with conventional trauma therapies (such as psychotherapy) can offer a comprehensive healing pathway. Overall, a holistic approach that nurtures the body and mind is essential for long-term recovery and healing.